Real Madrid Star Jude Bellingham Set To Miss Start of Season

Despite the troublesome shoulder injury, Jude Bellingham has continued to feature heavily for both club and country.

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to miss the start of the 2025/26 season as he prepares to undergo shoulder surgery following the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. The 21-year-old has been dealing with a persistent shoulder issue since 2023, and Real Madrid’s medical team has now deemed the surgery necessary to prevent long-term damage.

Bellingham’s injury came from a dislocated left shoulder suffered in a match against Rayo Vallecano in November 2023. He was sidelined for four games at that time and has since managed the injury with strapping and conservative treatment. However, the tight fixture schedule has prevented the midfielder from undergoing surgery earlier, and Real Madrid now believe that delaying it further could risk worsening the problem.

Bellingham To Be Sidelined for Atleast 12 Weeks

Despite the injury, Bellingham has continued to feature heavily for both club and country. In his debut season with Real Madrid after his £115 million move from Borussia Dortmund, he scored 23 goals in 43 appearances, helping the club to La Liga and Champions League titles. However, he was less influential this season with 14 goals in 52 games. Madrid finished second in the league and exited the Champions League at the quarter-final stage against Arsenal.

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According to The Athletic, the surgery has been scheduled to take place after the Club World Cup, which runs from 15 June to 13 July. Following the procedure, Bellingham is set for a minimum 12-week recovery period, ruling him out of preseason and at least the first six weeks of the new campaign. He is also expected to miss England’s World Cup qualifiers in September against Andorra and Serbia.

🚨 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Jude Bellingham will undergo a shoulder surgery after the Club World Club and will be out for 3 months after that 🤕 (via @TheAthleticFC) pic.twitter.com/NQ5QnzFf7E
— 433 (@433) May 20, 2025

Real Madrid are expected to closely manage Bellingham’s recovery, with the hope of having him back fully fit by mid-autumn, as they look to reclaim the La Liga and Champions League titles in 2025/26.

Jude Bellingham

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.